The issue before the American people that relates to Iraq is the surge--the escalation of the war in Iraq. That is the debate that should be before this body, and last night that was prevented. An up-or-down vote on McCain, who is…

I spoke to Speaker Pelosi a couple of hours ago. Next week, the House is going to take up the Iraq situation. The legislation they will deal with, I have been told by the Speaker, is whether the House of Representatives will support the…

I say to my friend that the only thing I sense this afternoon--and I have to say it with a smile on my face, and I hope everyone recognizes this--is that every piece of legislation we have brought up, the Senator from New Hampshire has…

I say to my friend who came to the House at the same time as myself, and then we came to the Senate together--in fact, there is only one person ahead of me in seniority, and that is the Senator from Arizona because the State of Arizona has…

I don't think I have to make that judgment now because the judgment, I say to my friend from New Hampshire, is not some diversionary matter. The issue before this body and the issue before the American people--that is why we are getting…

I have to be honest with my friend from Illinois, who also came with us at the same time from the House to the Senate, that the answer is, yes. The Lieberman amendment has been given up.

Is it not true that when the Senator says he supports the troops, that there is disapproval of what they are doing and that the Senator does not think their mission is going to succeed? And is it not true that maybe some of the troops may…

I say to my friend that the rumor around here is that Senator Warner put that in there thinking he could get the support of the Senator from New Hampshire, but, obviously, he was wrong.

I would say to my friend, yes, that is true. We were willing because the Senator from Arizona had the ability, the courage, and the dignity to put this issue before the American people, even though--and he knows this--the vast majority of…

Could ask for 60 votes. I say to my friend, hypothetically that is true, but that is the way it is with many things in this body. But that person would have to come forward, identify themselves, and stand up and say: I do not want the…

all across America this past weekend, and even this morning in schools, cafes, pool halls, I am sure, churches, synagogues, military bases, and all offices, people are talking about this war in Iraq. They are talking about President Bush's…

We do not have a single, nondeployed Army unit that is ready to go to war. We have depleted our Treasury over $400 billion-- some say $500 billion. Look at this. The Congressional Budget Office is a nonpartisan entity set up by this…

it is also very interesting--and I have the greatest respect for my friend from Virginia and my friend from Nebraska--but with all due respect to them, how could they vote against a motion to proceed? How could they vote against a motion…

keep in mind what I offered the minority: up-or-down votes on Warner and McCain; up-or-down vote on Judd Gregg. I also offered a 60-vote on Warner and a 60-vote on McCain. That was also turned down. This thing about 60 votes is…

my goal as a boy was to be a baseball player. I loved to listen to those baseball games, and I could see myself in my mature years chasing balls down in the outfield and hitting doubles to bring in the winning run. That didn't happen in my…

I notice that the Senate overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2, the minimum wage legislation. I congratulate the floor managers for their excellent work. I congratulate the Republican leader for working with us to get this important piece of…

Senators Kerry and Snowe, who are the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Small Business, have indicated there are a lot of matters relating to small business jurisdiction that need to be completed forthwith. They are going to…

I want to express how much I appreciate the attitude and demonstration of bipartisanship shown by Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi. I have said before they are an example of how people with different political philosophies can do things…

I have already apologized to staff and others for having to wait around so long, but sometimes it takes a long time to get from here to there. I, first of all, want to acknowledge the hard work of so many different people that allowed us…

The problem we have is a narrow window of time because of the absolute requirement--absolute requirement to finish the continuing appropriations resolution by February 15 to avoid a total closure of the Federal Government--a total closure…

the distinguished minority manager of this bill is easy to get along with. I want the record spread with the fact that he is a gentleman. I wish every Member in this Senate was as easy to work with as the Senator from Wyoming. However, I…

I said at a meeting with the press earlier today how much I appreciate the Republicans supporting cloture on this minimum wage bill. I hope we are going to have a good bipartisan vote on this bill. There is no question in my mind we will…

Consultation, to me, means consultation. You sit down and talk with people you're trying to work something out with. Not after you've already written the speech.

Mr. President, if I may say a few words in addition, today we are going to, hopefully, have a debate that will be meaningful to the American people on minimum wage. This debate will be completed tomorrow in many respects, with a cloture…

Today is the graduation of the pages. There will be a ceremony at 10 o'clock honoring them in remembrance of their stay in the Capitol. The pages do invaluable work, and they have for many years. I depend upon them personally all the time…